Fold-anchoring means for cloth spreading machines



Feb. 9, 1960 w. DEICHMANN FOLD-ANCHORING MEANS FOR CLOTH SPREADING MACHINES t w a w e m s E; Q ow Mm Q Q E r W w\w o l 3N \3 w N Q\ w w 1 1 F x INVENTOR 144441-52 DE/cH/vmMv ATTORNEY 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 'w. DEICHMANNI FOLD-ANCHCRING MEANS FOR CLOTH SPREADING MACHINES Filed Nov. 9, 1956 Feb. 9, 1960 INVENTOR 14 44 TEF? DE/ CHMflN/V $4 M (IBM ATTORNEY Feb. 9, 1960 w. DEICHMANN 2,924,450

FOLD-ANCHORING MEANS FOR CLOTH SPREADING MACHINES Y 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 9, 1956 INVENTOR 01/4475)? .DE/CHM/INN ATTO R N EY FOLD-ANCHORING MEANS FOR CLOTH SPREADING MACHINES Filed NOV. 9, 1956 Feb. 9, 1960 w. DEICHMANN 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR M/AL 1-5? 135/ CHM/INN A ORNEY FOLD-ANCHORING MEANS FOR CLOTH SPREADING MACHINES Feb. 9, 1960 w. DEICHMANN 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 9, 1956 INVENTOR vWm r51? Dz/cmwmv M/QM ATTORNEY United States Patent 2,924,450 FOLD-ANCHORING MEANS FOR CLOTH SPREADING MACHRNES Walter Deichmann, Mineola, N.Y., assig'nor to Cutting Room Appliances Corp, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Application November 9, 1956, Serial No. 621,350 26 Claims. (Cl. 27031) This invention relates to cloth spreading machines. Particularly, it is concerned with fold-anchoring means to cooperate with automatic cloth spreading machines. I

In the operation of certain automatic cloth spreading machines, means are provided which automatically take hold of a fold when it is distended to the limit to which such a layer is to be spread, and then retain that told thus distended as the spreading device moves away, leaving the fold just formed. Attempts have been made to produce a straight line for the holding means so that it functions substantially in a plane perpendicular to the surface upon which the fabric is being spread, so that.

the folds distended and held in position are uniform in the length of their layers.

Another factor found undesirable in the operation of various holding means is that when the fold finally is left free by the spreading device and is clamped by the holding means, wrinkling of the fabric ensues.

It is an object of the invention to provide mechanism which may operate in conjunction with automatic layer spreading and fold-forming means to clamp folds when they are distended to their end positions, and will function to produce a smoothening action upon such folds, and thus eliminate distortion of the layers as they are piled up successively during the operation of the spreading means.

In the operation of spreading machines, the length of the table necessary for the production of layers 'of the lengths desired is of importance, since floor space in cutting rooms generally is expensive. Mechanism for spreading is desired which will require little more than the longest length of fabric intended to be spread. Such mechanism must be capable of cooperating easily and with great facility with the spreading means, that is, the fold-forming device, without interference from the structure of the clamping device. It is an object of the invention to provide a clamping device in which a clamping member is disposed well in advance of the supporting elements for the clamping member so that the clamping device will not hinder the proper operation of the various parts of the spreading means, and yet will cooperate with great facility with the spreading means.

In the customary operation of a cutting room, first fabric is spread; thereafter the fabric is out after being marked according to certain patterns. The facility with which these successive operations may be performed determines the efficiency of the cutting room. Usually, the clamping devices are removed from the table in order to permit the cutting devices ready access to the entire extent of the spread layers. This is made necessary usually since the clamping device is limited to a very short range in vertical movement, and ordinarily would be in position to interfere with cutting machines used on cutting tables. A problem is thus presented to provide clamping devices which may be adjusted to remove their operating parts including their clamping plates to a position out of the range of the fabric stretched upon the "ice table, so as not to interfere when the cutting operations proceed, or when, for any period, it becomes necessary to move the clamping member so as not to interfere with access to the very'ends of the spread layers.

It is an object of the invention to provide a clamping mechanism wherein the moving parts including the clamping plate may be moved to be disposed at such an elevation that it will be free of parts upon the table, and will not interfere with the movements of a workman as he may make adjustments of the apparatus or the fabric, right up to the position of the clamp mechanism.

It is an object of the invention, to facilitate cutting operations upon spread fabric, to provide clamping mechanism which makes possible movement of the clamping device to a position where a workman may safely move a cutting machine right up to the clamping mechanism without danger that the clamping device will fall down on the workman or on the cutting machine.

Other objects of the invention will be set forth hereinafter, or will be apparent from the description and the drawings, in which are illustrated embodiments exemplifying the invention.

The invention, however, is not intended to be restricted to any particular construction, or any particular arrangement of parts, or any particular application of any such construction or arrangements of parts, or any specific method of operation or use, or any of the various details thereof, even where specifically shown and described herein, as the same may be modified in various particulars, or may be applied in many varied relations, without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention, of which .the exemplifying embodiments, herein shown and described, are intended only to be illustrative, and only for the purpose of complying with the requirements of the statutes for disclosure of an operative embodiment, but not to show all the various forms and modifications in which the invention might be embodied.

On the drawings, in which the same reference characters refer to the same parts throughout, and in which are disclosed such practical constructions,

Fig. l is a plan view of a clamping mechanism embodying features of the invention, only one side portion of the clamping mechanism being shown, and diiferent elements of the clamping mechanism being broken away;

Fig. la is a detail cross-sectional View, to reduced scale, substantially on the line la-la of Fig. 1, to illustrate the method of assembly of the clamp plate with some of its operating parts;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 1, the apparatus being shown in a position where the clamping member is at rest upon the surface on which the layers are to be spread in superposed relation;

Fig. 3 is a plan view, to reduced scale, showing the relative positioning of some of the parts of the clamping mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but one in which the clamping member has been raised, and wherein is shown the position now assumed by the clamping member and its associated elements in that relationship;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational View of some of the parts shown in Fig. 4, certain of the parts being broken away, but now showing the positions assumed by some parts when the clamping member is raised to a position beyond that in which it may perform any clamping functions, and where the member has reached a position of rest, and wherein a latch, which has held the apparatus in the position of Fig. 4, has been released, the chain being omitted for clarity;

Fig. 5a is a line diagrammatic view, to greatly reduced scale, to depict the relationship various of the catcher parts assume in Fig. 5;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but showing the parts in another position as they are advanced from the position of Fig. 5, and are moving toward a final and stable position where the clamp plate is at rest above and away from the layers upon the table, so that the layers are accessible for manipulation by the workman;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but one where the parts have been advanced further to the end rest position so that now a cloth cutting device may be manipulated upon the stacked layers without interference from the parts of the clamping mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a detail side elevational View, showing portions of a spreading machine and of a clamping mechanism in accordance with this inveniton, where the clamp plate of the clamping device is in position, holding the spread layers against movement, and where the spreading machine is laying down a new layer as it moves toward the clamp plate;

Fig. 9 is a View similar to Fig. 8, but showing the cooperation of the spreading machine and the clamping mechanism when the machine has advanced into position so that a part of the machine may engage the clamp plate free of the fabric, and illustrating the movement of the clamp plate as it smoothens the fabric;

Fig. 10 is a View similar to Fig. 9, but showing the spreading machine further advanced so that the clamp device has fallen upon the fold-forming member and is holding the fold presented by the fold-forming member;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10, but showing the operation of the parts as the machine is reversed in its movement with relation to the clamp plate, and the action which takes place as the clamp plate and the spreading machine are moved apart;

Fig. 12 is a detail cross-sectional view, substantially on the line 1212 of Fig. 2, illustrating only portions of the clamping mechanism, parts being broken away;

Fig. 13 is a detail cross-sectional view, substantially on the line 1313 of Fig. 1, illustrating the association of the clamp plate with its supporting members;

Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing a modified mechanism for obtaining the smoothening action of the clamp plate;

Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but with parts of the supporting structure broken away, showing the clamp plate lifted free of the surface, and illustrating the action which ensues when the clamp plate smoothens the layers;

Fig. 16 is a detail cross-sectional view on the line 16 16 of Fig. 14, but substantially to enlarged scale, to illustrate the manner in which certain parts operate to attain the smoothening result; and

Fig. 17 is a detail elevational view of a modified form of means for supporting the movable frames of the catcher when they are in the cold-clamping position.

On Fig. 1, a catcher 10 is illustrated, but only the parts at one side are shown. As shown in Fig. 3, the parts at the opposite sides of the catcher are substantially identically the same, with certain exceptions. The lengths of the bars are determined by the greatest width of fabric to be spread upon a table 12. As shown in Figs. 8 to 11, inclusive, the catcher is intended to cooperate with a spreading machine 14. On the drawings, only such portions of the spreading machine are shown as are necessary to illustrate the cooperation of the parts of catcher 10 therewith. Such spreading machine may be the same as or similar to the one shown in application, Serial No. 526,739, filed August 5, 1955, or may be of structure which will cooperate properly with acatcher such as here to be described.

Catcher 10 may be supported upon a base 16, which, by suitable securing means 18, may be anchored to table 12. Two of these bases are provided, one disposed at each side of the table. The bases are held together by tie rods 20 and 22, and shaft 24. Each base may have a plate 26 extending away from a wall 28. Tie rod 22 extends between bosses 30 on plates 26. A stop 32 may be 4 assembled with plate 26, the stop being shown as taking the form of a screw, received in a threaded opening in plate 26. The stop may be provided with stop nuts 34 to permit its longitudinal adjustment with relation to the plate, to serve as an adjustable limit for machine 14. The stop is intended to cooperate with suitable means on machine 14 for determining the amount of travel of the machine with relation to the table, and thus to determine the extent of layers 36 being spread by the machine upon the table.

On wall 28 on each base 16, suitable bosses 38 and 40 may be provided. Through an opening 42 in boss 38, shaft 24 may extend (Fig. 12). Upon shaft 24 may be assembled a sleeve 44 and a collar 46. Collar 46 is fixed to shaft 24 by suitable means such as a setscrew. A washer 48 engaged in a groove 50 in sleeve 44 engages against hub 52 of a latch member 54. Hub 52 is thus held against hub 56 of a link 58 which in turn bears against boss 38, to hold the parts in their properly related positions. Thus the position of shaft 42 with relation to boss 36 is determined. 1

Hub 56, which is formed as a part of link 58, is secured to sleeve 44 by means of a set screw 60. At its upper end, link 58 is provided with a machined opening 62 through which a shaft 64 extends. A clevis member 66 at the end of a bar 68 secures shaft 64 to rotate with the bar. That clevis member, together with other parts, holds link 58 with relation to shaft 64, but permits link 58 to have rotational movement with relation to the shaft.

, Rotatably carried on shaft 64 is a sprocket 70; hub 72 of sprocket 70 is encircled by one end 74 of a link 76; hub 72 extends through an opening 78 formed in end 74. Link 76 is secured by means of set screw 80 to hub 72 and thus rotates with sprocket 70, while sprocket 70 may rock with relation to shaft 64.

Link 76 extends (Fig. 2) rearwardly from hub 72 so that its end 82 may be connected pivotally to a link 84 by means of a pivot 86. Link 84, in turn, is pivotally connected to boss 40, as, for instance, by a pin 88.

Links 58 and 84 are substantially of identically the same length. The distance between the pivot points in' bosses 38 and 40 is substantially the same as the distance between the center of shaft 64 and pivot 86. Thus, a four-bar linkage is formed and will operate to produce substantially straight line movement for the center of shaft 64 with relation to table 12 upon which bases 16 are mounted. Thus, link 76 will be maintained substantially parallel to table 12 at all times, and the center of shaft 64 will deviate but very slightly from the path of movement which is parallel to the table surface.

Bar 68 may have an opening through which shaft 64 extends. The clevis member 66 at the end of the bar may be made effective by suitable means such as screw 92, to clamp the bar to shaft 64. Thus, bars 68 rotate together with shaft 64. Bars 68 of identical construction may be disposed at opposite sides of catcher 10.

At the other end of each bar '68 removed from shaft 64, there may be an opening 92 through which extends a pin 94. Pin 94 (Fig. 1a) may have a head 96 provided at one end. Its other end is a threaded shank 100 which is re ceived in a threaded bore 101 in an arm 183 of a hanger 112. A roller 118 is carried upon pin 94 between head '96 and bar 68. Arm 103 is threaded upon shank to leave a suflicient clearance for operation of roller 11% and movement of bar 68. Then sprocket 104 is slipped over shank 188 so that a pin 106 secured to extend from the end face of arm 183 will engage in an opening 108 catcher to distribute the forces required in lifting the.

elampingmembers to be' 'des'cribedi Substantially ,all of the operating parts are duplicatedateachsidqbxceptasit maybe otherwise specified. Someof the parts do not require duplication at the opposite-'sides,;as asingleset of parts will produce the described results".- Thus hanger 112 and sprocket 104- must move as 'a single unit at one side' of the apparatus; at the other "side; another set of sprockets and chain are unnecessary, so'a hanger 112 is coupled directly to a pin carrying a roller 1'18. I Hanger 112 is shown as including a bracket 120, which in turn is secured by suitable fastening means to a bar 122. The bar has a length equal to the entire width of the longest layer to be held by the mechanism. In the bar, at spaced intervals, openings- 124 are provided. Slidably mounted in certain of openings 124 are pins 126. The pins, at their lower ends, are secured to a plate 128. Between bar 122 and plate 12 8-suitable springs'1'30 may be disposed around pins 126. A pair-of locknuts 132 may be provided to engage the threaded ends of pins- 126 where they extend beyond bar 122, to limit the movement of plate #123 with relation to bar- 1'22. Secured to the bottom face of plate 128 may be a contact surface member 134. That member may comprise a layer of sponge rubber, which may be retained, as, for instance, by being suitably cemented to the bottom face of plate 128. In some cases, certain of pins 12'6may be assembled without encircling springs 13%, and merely serve to limit movement of plate 128 with relation to bar 122. Trained around sprockets 70 and 104 is a chain 136; the chain is shown as separated into sections 138 and 140. Turnbuckles 142 and 144 have the ends of sections 138 and '140 secured thereto. For instance, a threaded member 146 may be secured to eachend of sections 138 and 140i Suchtmem'beris then threaded througha properly threaded socket forming a part of the particular turnbuckle with which that member. 146 is to be assembled. The turnbuckles provide meansfor effecting certain-adjustments for each of sides 1 48 and1501of chain 136.

A boss-1'52 may be provided on wall128; associated with that boss may be an opening in whichlrod 20 may be retained; suitable securing means, such as a capscrew, or the like, may be utilized for retaining the rod firmlyv in place. Pivotally supported upon rod 20 are a pair of frame members 154. One of the frame members is disposed at each of the opposite sides of the catcher. Each frame member may include an arm 156 which is bent upwardly to provide a cantilever support 158 which has a bearing means- 160 at its end. Bearing means 160 is substantially at the same level with respect to table 12 as the center of shaft 64 and pivot 86, in the position shown in Fig. 2. At bend 1'62 may be a socket 164 (see Fig. Rod 166, which extends between bosses on walls 28, provides a seat upon which sockets 164 come to rest when members 154 are in the position of Fig. 2.

Instead of the cooperation of rod 22 with sockets 164, each bend 162 may have a foot 169 (Fig. 17).. Carried by each foot may be an adjusting screw 1'63 having a flat head. These heads would then come torest directly upon table 12. The conjunction of sockets 164 and rod 166 has been found efiective to avoid distortions arising where table tops are not perfectly planar, or where they have become warped or distorted. Therigidity and uniformity of rod 1'66 permits frame members 154 tocorne to a position of rest in the operating position without being affected by any such distortion.

A link 170 is pivotally carried by hearing means 160, and extends to and is pivotally connected with bar 68. The position of engagement of link 170 with bar '63 is substantially midway between pinr94 and shaft 64. Furthermore, when socket 164 is at rest on rod 166, bearing means 160 will be at a level substantially the same as the mean level of shaft 64, in its oscillations with relation to table 12. Link 170, between its pivot center of bearing means 1'60and its pivotal connection172 with bar 68, is substantially one-half of the lengthofbar 68-. That dis- 6. and pivotal connection "172'. By this constructionypin 94 will be caused to move i-na' path-which follows a line substantially perpendicularto table12.'

Sections 138 and of chain 136may be made tight enough, by adjustment of turnbuckles'142 and 144, so that sprocket 104 will have to rotate identically as sprocket 7 0'. Since sprocket 70 is" anchored to rotate with link 76, chain 136, in wrapping and unwrapping around sprocket 70 with oscillation of bar 68 aboutthe centerof shaft 64, will cause sprocket 104'tohave'identical rotation, and will hold sprocket 10 4 against any other motion. Thus, the radial change of position of the two' sprockets will, under such conditions, be identical. 'If han'ger'3112 is pre-set into a position so that the bottomface' 174 of member 134 has a predetermined relationshiprto-"table '12, it will always have that same relationship underzthese circumstances, while bar 68 undergoes oscillation in a limited area of oscillation.

Turnbuckle 142 may be adjusteds'o that, when the ap-' paratus is in the position (Fig; 4) with bar 122 suspended, and member 134 free of'contact with the table, the turn ing of member 134 on pins 94' under the action of gravity will be limited so that face 174 will be substantially parallel to the surface of the table. Since the rotation of sprocket '70 is contained by link'7 6,'the portion of chain 136 extending from the teeth of sprocket 70, on side 148* including turnbuckle 142, tosprocket 104, will be in tension. No matterhow much turnbuckle 144 is loosened, sprocket 104 may not turn counterclockwise after it reaches the limit set by theadjustment of turnbuckle 142. However, it is obvious that: if a turning moment in a clockwise direction is imparted to member 134, and if turnbuckle 144 has been lo'o'senedQ-b'ar122 and sprocket 10 4 with member 134 maybe turnedan amount determined only by the amount by which turnbuckle 144 has, been loosened, until the slaclcthus set up has been taken up in side 1511 of the chain, and transferred to side 14$ in which turnbuckle 14-2 is' positioned. Member 134' will have been tilted by this action fromaits A former position in which it was substantially parallel to the table. An adjustment by the two turnbuckles is thus made possible so that the bottom face 174 of -member 134, when member 134 is suspended free of the surface, will be substantially parallel tothe surface, and ready to engage the-surfacein this substantially'parallel condition. However, from such a proper adjustment it would follow that a slight turning moment would cause member 3134 to tilt in a clockwise direction. g

In Fig. 8, the fold-formingdevicei176 of spreading machine '14 is shown asmoving to the'right, laying down a layer 36 0f fabric .while 'it' pushes a fold 178 along. Carried with fold-former.176 is. aufinger or track 1'30 which is presentedin advance o-f the fold-former so that it will engage with roller118. Preferably there is a track 180 carried at eachside of fold-former 176, and-another pair point in the oppositeHdirect-ion.

For the purposes of this description, referencemay be had to the apparatus disclosed in the prior filed 'applica-- tion, Serial No. 526,739; Generally,- asa part ofmachine 14 thereis a carriage 182 upon which fold-former 176 is pivotally mounted. In" the instance illustrated, the fold-former may comprise a pair of rods-.184 each of which may be supported upona rocker arm 186 which is pivotally mounted on the frame of carriage 182,. A head 188'forming part of arm186* cooperates witha stop 190 to determine two opp'ositepositions for rods 184. On the drawings, the rods havebeen rotated into one position to cooperate in formingthe fold and presenting it to the catcher at one endof-thetable. By suitable mechanism, arms 186 may be rotated until'head 18% engages stop 190 inthe oppositedi'rectiomin which event.

rods 184 would have beenreversed and'pointed in the opposite direction.

Tracks 180 may. have a roller-1 2 at their free ends,

t'ance is'also the distance between the centers of pin 94 7 to permit the end of the track to roll freely upon the table when the carriers 194 for the tracks and the rods 184 are at their lowermost positions. As the carriers are lifted by suitable mechanism, the tracks are lifted and tilt toward the table until stops 196 on the tracks engage stops 198 on the carriers. Then rollers 192 will be lifted free of the table, but the tracks will be in position to engage rollers 118 in any position as those rollers are in line to be engaged to be rolled up the tracks as the layers of fabric are piled up.

At the moment when rollers 118 are engaged by the moving tracks (Fig. 9), the fold-forming operation being effected by the fold-former has not been completed. The action then is to raise rollers 118 and the bars at the end of which the rollers are positioned, lifting member 134 free of the superimposed layers 36. A peculiar thing happens at this time. Note the position of mem her 134 (Fig. 9), where it is shown not to be tilted out of parallelism with the surface of the table. When turnbuckles 142 and 144 were adjusted, a degree of slack was provided for side 150 of the chain by manipulation of turnbuckle 144. Thus, when plate 128 and its mem ber 134 were brought to rest upon the superposed layers, this slack permitted the assembly to tilt from the horizontal in the manner shown in Fig. 8.

However, when roller 118 is engaged by finger 180, and bar 68 is lifted, removing member 134 from the superposed layers, the weight of bar 122 and its associated members will then tend to adjust plate 128 and member 134 to a parallel relation to the table, as determined by the adjustment of turnbuckle 142. This slight movement from the tilted position to the perpendicular position takes place in the first few degrees of movement, so that member 134 first slides over the top surface of the superposed layers. In that movement, the face of member 134 tends to apply a slight pull on the fabric, smoothening the top layer firmly away from the advancing fold-former. This pulling or drawing elfect, pulling the fabric back from those layers already laid down, reduces wrinkling and bulging of the folds at the end positions.

As tracks 180 are advanced still further by the carriage, rollers 118 ride up the tracks. At the time rollers 118 ride over pivot 200, ends 202 of the tracks will engage against a stop 204. Rollers 118 will now continue along the tracks, held in this manner, until finally they fall off the end edges of ends 202. With rollers 118 will go plate 128 and member 134. The latter Will fall upon a rod 184 of fold-forming device 176, and will engage the fabric folded around the rod (Fig. 10)

Now as the fold-forming device is retracted to commence the formation of another layer (Fig. 11), rod 184 is pulled from beneath member 134. Now, when member 134 moves to the unbalanced position shown, and is advanced to where it commences to slide off rod 184, the slack in side 150 permits member 134 to tilt, but still continue to hold the fabric fold. The amount of tilt will be limited by the amount of slack, as shown, but a few degrees of tilt will be elfected. Finally, when member 134 comes to rest in the position shown (Fig. 8) when it completes its fall off rod 184, it is left in the tilted position so as to be ready to swing, under the effect of gravity, in order to wipe or smoothen the fabric the next time fold-forming device 176 comes into position to present another fold to member 134 and lift member 134 free of the layers already positioned.

Gravity normally will retain frame members 154 in position. In order to overcome possible displacement arising from shocks occurring as fold-forming device 176 moves into association with the catcher, arm 156 is provided with an extension 206 (Fig. beyond the pivot provided by rod 20. Extension 206 may carry a pin 208 (Fig. 5) positioned to cooperate with a slot 210 in an arm 212 of latch member 54. Member 54 has hub' 52 at the point of its pivoting on sleeve 44. Latch member 8 54 is weighted, by means of an arm 214 extending be; yond hub 52, so that slot 210 will tend normally to move into position to engage with pin 208. On such engagement, member 54 holds frame members 154 against turning on their pivots on rod 20, until member 54 is disengaged in a manner to be described.

When member 134 has reached its lower limit of travel, and rests upon the surface of table 12 (Fig. 2), links 58 and 84 will be in asubstantially vertical position. As bar 122 is lifted, carrying member 134 with it, pin 94 follows a plane substantially perpendicular to the table surface, and links 58 and 84 move backwardly (Fig. 4). When bar 68 passes to a position above bearing means 160, links 58 and 84 move back toward the positions of Fig. 2.

It is desirable to be able to move plate 128 and member 134 out of the layer-retaining position, and to a position of rest, in order to permit the operator to adjust or otherwise to work upon the fabric. For such purpose, bar 122 is lifted still further by hand, beyond the upper range where pin 94 had been moving in a plane substantially perpendicular to the table surface. Links 58 and 84 will now continue their counter-clockwise movement, as bar 68 is moved still further upwardly. Finally, link 58 will come to rest upon a stock 227, which will halt shaft 64 and make it a stationary pivot. Carried upon and secured to shaft 64 is a lug 216 which is so related to bar 68 that as link 58 comes to rest against stop 227 (Fig. 5), lug 216 will have engaged arm 212 to force latch member 54 sufliciently to disengage pin 208 from slot 210 so that further movement of bars 68 may now ensue. However, at this position just described (Fig. 5a), bar 68 will now have formed the toggle, as it will be obvious that the force at shaft 64 is in a line to the left of shaft 24 in Fig. 5a. The weight of member 134 is to the right of bearing means 160. A condition of stability has thus been attained, and the parts may be left at rest in this relationship.

Now, with continued application of a turning moment to bars 68 and 122 in a clockwise direction, carrying plate 128 and member 134 along with them, a lifting force will become effective through bars 68 and links 170 upon frame members 154. Since latch member 54 has been released, continued rotation of bars 68 around shaft 64 will lift frame members 154 free of the position in which sockets 164 are engaged over rods 166, the a6ssembly turning around the stationary pivot of shaft As lug 216 moves further, driving latch member 54 before it, it might be possible that the latch member would be released and could rock to reengage slot 210 over pin 208. In order to prevent such result, extension 206 (Fig. 6), on continued movement of the members as they are lifted further, will move so that pin 208 rides along face 218 of latch member 54, rocking and holding member 54. Finally, the pin comes to a position of rest within a recess 220, positively holding latch member 54 depressed and away from any such possible re-engagement.

As the parts moved into the several layenretaining positions, and until the parts were raised to the position of Fig. 5, arm 68 and link were affected by lines of force by reason of which arm 68, if not otherwise restrained, would fall down upon the table. When the members Were moved beyond the position of Fig. 5, and frame members 154 were lifted further to the position of Fig. 6, the forces were changed in their effectiveness, as bar 68 had now moved to a position Where it was disposed on the opposite side of the vertical from shaft 64. The parts would now be continued in their rotation. until bars 68 reached the position of Fig. 7. In that position, I

sperm The belt may beheld an adjusted'positionbymeans of yalocl'mut 226. The-bolt 'headmay'serve as a stop, coming into engagement with hub 52 to'limit movement ofbar-68 and its associated members.

Stop 227, to which reference has heretofore been made,

ing in wall 23 to engage in a threaded herein the stop for that purpose. A bolt head 231 may be made adjustable by being threadedly engaged in stop 22'], and held in position by means of a locknut. Link 58 (Fig. 7 )comes to rest against bolt head 231 at the end of the movement'of the frames in the clockwise direction:

A cutting machine 228 (Fig. 7) may be moved freely right up to and there perform workupon the ends of superposed layers 36, without encountering interference from 'the parts of the catcher, when the parts are in either of the positions of Figs. a and 7.

' Carried on shaft 24 onthe outside of wall 28 beyond boss38, may be a latch 230 having a slot 232 to engage upon rods (not shown) of the spreading machine. Upon release of securing means 18, and engagement of latch 230 with the spreading machine, movement of the spreadi'ng machine will slide catcher 10 along the table to a position determined by the end position to which the- A link 238 replaces link 76 and the sprocket 70 associated withlink 76. Integrated with link 238 in any suitable manner is an arm 240. A bar 242 is carried between arms 236 and 240 on pins- 244 and 24-6, fastened respectively to the arms; Pin 244 represents a pivot connection between bar 242 and arm 236. Pin 246 is fixed to and extends laterally from arm 240 sothat it may ride in a slot 248 in bar 242. Ann 240 positions pin 246 so that, by engaging against end wall 250 of slot 248, it will limit movement of the bar in one direction. A boss 252 may be provided to extend laterally from bar 242; in that boss athreaded opening may be provided with which an'adjustment screw 254'; cooperates. The position of the end of screw 254 is thus adjustable, and serves to limit the distance of free movement of pin 246' in slot 248 away from end wall 250 by engaging face 256 of arm 240.

The lengths of arms 236 and 2% from their centers on bar 68 to pins 244- and 246 are equal. Thus pins- 244 and 246 are equidistant from the centers of pivoting of hangers 234 and link 23%, respectively.

'Thedistance between the pivot points of hanger 234 and link 23% is the same as the distance between pin 244 and the position of pin 246 when it is in abut' vice into contact with the folded material (Fig; 14) onthe table, tilting takes place, as shown, because of the ability of bar 242 tomove because of the gap between the position of engagement ofpin 246 with end wall 250, and the engagement of arm 240 withthe end ofscrew 254.

Many other changes could be effected inthe particular constructions, and in the methods of use and construction, and in specific details thereof, hereinbefore set forth, withoutsubstantiallydeparting from the invention intended-to be defined herein, the specific description being merely of embodiments capable of illustrating certain principles of the invention.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

1. In sheet; material spreadingapparatus', wherein a sheet-of material is distended-uponia surface. by a devicev to produce a 'pl'urality' of superposed layers,' device includes a fold-forming element movable with re lation tothe surface, and means for engaging'theele' ment and any fold of 'maten'al formed and then positioned by the element and thereafter to retain the fold against further movement as the element moves with relation to the surface, the engaging means comprisinga support member, a clamp plate carried by and at one end of the support member, the plate having movement with the support member,the plate having a part of its move-i ment in a limited area within which it cooperates with the element, means for acting upon the support member to cause the clamp plate to move within said limited area; in a path substantially perpendicular to the surface, and means associated with theacting means and the support member normally to bring the plate into a position which is substantially parallel to the surface at substan tially every position of the plate in said path within said limited area, the associated means being constructed so that the plate may have limited movement out of the substantially parallel position at substantially every posit-ion to which the support member may be moved, the limited movement of the plate being only in such direction that the plate will tend to return to the substantially parallelposition and in so doing will wipe over and smoothen the sheet material fold.

2. In sheet material spreading apparatus, wherein a sheet of'material is distended upon a surface by a device to produce a plurality of superposed layers, where the then positioned on the element and thereafter to retain the fold against further movement as the element moves with relation to the surface, the engaging means com.- prising a support member, a clamp plate carried by and at one end of the support member, the plate having movement with the support member, the plate having a part of its movement in a limited area within which it cooperates with the element, means for acting upon the support member to cause the clamp plate to move Within" said limited area in a path substantially perpendicular to' the surface, and means associated with the acting means and the support member to cause the plate normally to assume a position which is substantially parallel to the surface at substantially every position of the plate within said limited area, the associated means being constructed so that the plate may have limited movement out of the substantially parallel position at substantially every posi tion to which the support member may be moved, the limited movement of the plate being only in such direction that the plate will tend to return to the substantially bythe number of layers superposed upon each other on the surface, and'means'for engaging the element at any elevation and any fold of material formed by and then positioned ontheelement andithereafter a retain the fold against further movement as the element. moves withlrelation tothe: surface, the engaging means comprising a supportmember, a clamp plate carried by and at one: end of the-support member, the plate having movement with the support member,..the plate having a part of its movement 'in' a limited areawithin=whieh1it cooperates with the element, means'includinglithe support" member. for. guiding, the. clamp plate within: said 'limited 11 area to engage material folded on the element and then off the element onto the superposed layers of material previouslylaid down upon the surface, and means associated with I the guiding means and the support member included therein to cause the plate at substantially every position the plate may assume within said limited area normally to be substantially parallel to the surface, the associated means being constructed so that the plate at substantially every position at which the plate may move into engagement with the superposed layers will have limited movement lengthwise of the distended sheet material as the support member lifts the plate free of the layers of sheet material superposed on each other on the surface, the limited movement of the plate being only insuch direction that the plate will tend to return to the substantially parallel position and in so doing will wipe over and smoothen the sheet material fold.

4. In sheet material spreading apparatus, wherein a sheet of material is distended upon a surface by a device to produce a plurality of superposed layers, where the device includes a fold-forming element movable with relation to the surface, the element being controlled by means for elevating the element to a level determined by the number of layers superposed upon each other on the surface, and means for engaging the elementat any elevation and any fold of material formed by and then positioned on the element and thereafter to retain the fold against further movement as the element moves with relation to the surface, the engaging means comprising a support member, aclamp plate carried by and at one end of the support member, the support member having means for controlling its movement to impart to the plate movement in a limited area Within which it cooperates with the element, means including the support member for guiding the clamp plate into position to rest upon the material folded on the element when the element is brought into juxtaposition to the clamping plate, the guiding means permitting the clamping plate to move off the element onto the previously formed superposed layers of material when the element is withdrawn from its juxtaposition to the clamping plate, and means for acting upon the guiding means and the support member so that the plate will tend normally to be disposed substantially parallel to the surface at substantially every position the plate may be disposed within said limited area, the acting means being constructed so thatthe plate may have limited movement in the direction the element moves as it is withdrawn from its juxtaposition to the clamp plate and as the clamp plate moves onto the previously formed superposed layers.

5. In sheet material spreading apparatus, wherein a sheet of material is distended upon a surface by a device to produce a plurality of superposed layers, where the device includes a fold-forming element movable with relation to the surface, means for elevating the element according to the number of layers superposed upon each other on the surface by the element, a clamping member, means for bringing the member into engagement with the element to hold a fold of material formed and then positioned by the element and thereafter to retain the fold against further movement as the element moves with relation to the surface, the bringing means comprising a support member carrying the clamping member at one end of the support member, the support member having means for controlling its movement to impart to the'clamping member movement in a limited area within which it cooperates with the element, means for acting upon the support member to cause the clamping member to move within said limited area in a path substantially perpendicular to the surface, and mechanism cooperating with the acting means and the clamping member normally to maintain the clamping member substantially parallel to the surface at substantially every position of the clamping member in said path within said limited area, the mechanism being constructed so that the clamping member has limited movement in the direction the element moves as the element is withdrawn from beneaththe clamping member and as the clamping member moves onto the previously formed superposed layers. 4

v6. In sheet material spreading apparatus, wherein a sheet of material is distended upon a surface by a device to produce a plurality of superposed layers, where the device includes a fold-forming element movable with relation to the surface, means for elevating the element according to the number of layers superposed upon each other on the surface by the element, a clamping member, means for bringing the member into engagement with the element to hold a fold of material formed and then positioned by the element and thereafter to retain the fold against further movement as the element moves with relation to the surface, the bringing means comprising a support member carrying the clamping member at one end of the support member, the support member having means for controlling its movement to impart to the clamping member movement in a limited area within which it cooperates with the element, means for acting upon the support member to cause the clamping member to move Within said limited area in a path substantially perpendicular to the surface, and mechanism cooperating with the acting means and the clamping member normally to maintain the clamping member substantially parallel to the surface at substantially every position of the clamping member said path within said limited area, the mechanism being constructed so that the clamping member has limited movement in the direction the element moves as the element is withdrawn from beneath the clamping member and as theclamping member moves onto the previously formed superposed layers, the clamping member on thereafter being lifted from the superposed layers wiping along the topmost face of the layers to smoothen the fold.

7. In sheet material spreading apparatus, wherein a sheet of material is distended upon a surface to form a plurality of superposed layers of predetermined extent, means for distending the sheet to form a fold of the material and to bring the fold to a position at the end of the extent of a layer, means for engaging the fold while it is still upon the fold-forming means at the position at the end of the extent of the layer and thereafter to retain the fold against further movement with the fold-forming means, and means for supporting the engaging means so that the engaging means may slide off the fold-forming means and onto the superposed layers without losing contact with the formed fold, the supporting means and the engaging means being connected to each other so that the engaging means moves by frictional engagement with the fold only in a direction to smoothen the formed fold as the engaging means is being lifted free of the formed fold.

8. In sheet material spreading apparatus, wherein a sheet of material is distended upon a surface to form a plurality of superposed layers of predetermined extent, means for distending the sheet to form a fold of the material and to bring the fold to a position at the end of the extent of a layer, fold-engaging means, means for positioning the fold-engaging means, the positioning means including means for guiding the fold-engaging means to engage a fold while it is still upon the foldforming means at the position at the end of the extent of the layer, the engaging means then continuing to retain the fold against further movement as the fold-forming means moves away from the position at the end of the extent of the layer, the positioning means providing means to guide the engaging means to slide off the foldforming means and onto the superposed layers without losing contact with the formed fold, the guiding means providing means for lifting and lowering the engaging means, and means forming part of the guiding means 'to control the engaging means so that as it is lifted from the, superposed folds the engaging means will have limited movement transversely of the direction in which it 1is being lifted to produce a smoothening of the-formed 9; In sheet material spreading apparatus, wherein a sheet ofmaten'al is distended upon a surface to form a plurality of superposed layers of predetermined extent, means for distending the sheet to form a fold of the material and to bring the fold to a position at the end of the extent of a layer, a clamping member, means for supporting the member so that the member has a predetermined path of movement, the member during a portion of said path of movement being effective to come to rest, upon the fold-forming means when it reaches the end, of the. extent of a layer to hold a fold of material formed on the fold forming means and thereafter to retain the fold against further movement with the foldforminghmeans, the supporting means including a plurality of arms, the clamping member being mounted upon the arms, means cooperating with the arms and theclamping member to cause the clamping member normally to assume a position of parallelism with relation to the superposed layers, the cooperating means including means to permit the clamping member to move out ofthe. position of parallelism in one direction only, the supporting means, the cooperating means and the permitting means coacting to cause the clamping member to. tilt as it slides off the fold-forming member when the fold-forming member is retracted out of the position for the end of the extent of a layer and from beneath the clamping. member resting upon the fold-forming means and as the. clamping member slides down upon the superposed layers, the tilted member being biased a limited amount determined by the permitting means so that it will swing oppositely as the clamping member is thereafter lifted by the supporting means and will wipe over the top face of and smoothen the superposed layers.

10. In. sheetmaterial spreading apparatus, wherein a sheet of material is distended upon a surface by a-device to..produce a plurality of superposed layers, Where the device includes a fold-forming element movable with relation to the surface, means: for engaging the element and-any fold of material formed and then positioned by thetelement and thereafter to retain the fold against further' movement as the element moves with relation to the;

surface, the engaging means comprising a base, a plurality of' arms, means for supporting the arms so that points in the arms move in paths substantially perpendicular to the surface for a limited distance, a clamp plate. normally pivotally movable on the arms at said points, the plate having a face for engaging the fold of material, and means carried by the arms for restraining the-plate to limit the normal movement of the plate to a position where said face is substantially parallel to the surface, the restraining means including means to permit rocking of the clamp plate against the normal movement out of the parallel condition in one direction only.

11. In sheet material spreading. apparatus, wherein a sheet of material is distended upon a surface by a device to, produce a plurality of superposed layers, where the deuiqeincludes a fold-forming element movable with relation to the surface, means for engaging the element andiany foldi of material formed'by and then positioned by the element and thereafter to retain the fold against further. movement as the element moves with relation totthe, surface, the engaging means comprising a base, a plurality of arms, means for supporting the arms so that points-in the arms move in paths substantially perpendicular .to the. surface for a limited distance, a clamp plate normally pivotally movable on the arms at said points, the plate having a face for engaging the fold of material, means. carried by the arms for restraining the plate to limit the. normal movement of the plate to a position where saidiface is substantially parallel to the surface, the restrainingmeanstcomprising a chain, and means, for

14 including limited slack effective in asingle direction so that the clamp plate may rock out of the parallelAto-surface condition only in the direction toward the element.

12. In sheet material spreading apparatus, wherein a sheet of material is distended upon a surface by a device to produce a plurality of superposed layers, where the device includes a fold-forming element movable with relationstoi the surface, means for engaging the element and any fold of material formed and then positioned by the element and thereafter to retain the fold against further movement as the element moves with relation to the surface, the engaging means comprising a base, a movable standard carried on the base, a plurality of arms, means carried by the standard to provide a moving fulcrum for the arms, means carried directly by the base to provide another moving fulcrum for the arms, the moving fulcrums cooperating to compel points in the arms. not between the fulcrums to move in paths substantially perpendicular to the surface for a limited distance, a clamp plate normally pivotally movable on the arms at said points, the plate having a face for engaging the'fold of material, means carried by the arms for restraining the plate to limit the normal movement of the plate to a position where said faceis substantially parallel to the surface, the restraining means including means to permit rocking the clamp plate out of the parallel-to-surface conditiononly in a single direction toward the element, the standard being movable on the base to early the arms and, the clamp plate out of the area of said limited distance, and latching means to restrain the standard against movement to carry the arms and the clamp plate out of said area.

13. In, sheet material spreading apparatus, wherein a sheet of material is distended upon a surface by a device to produce a plurality of superposed layers, Where the device includes a fold-forming element movable with relation to the surface, means for engaging the element and any fold of material formed and then positioned by the element and thereafter to retain the fold against further movement as the element moves with relation to the surface, the engaging means comprising a base, a movable standard carried on the base, a plurality of arms, means carried by the standard to provide a moving fulcrum for the arms, means carried directly by the base to, provide another moving fulcrum for the arms, the moving fulcrums cooperating to compel points in the arms not between the fulcrums to move in paths substantially perpendicular to the surface for a limited distance, a clamp plate normally pivotally movable on the arms at said points, the plate having a face for engaging the fold of material, means carried by the arms for resurface condition only in a single direction toward the element, the standard being movable on the base to carry the arms and the clamp plate out of the area of said limited distance, latching means to restrain the standard against movement to carry the arms and the clamp plate out of said area, and means carried by-the arms for deactivating the latch when the arms are movedout of said area.

14. In sheet material spreading apparatus, wherein a sheet of material is distended upon a surface by a device.

to produce a plurality of superposed layers, where the device includes a fold-forming element movable with relation to the surface, means for engaging the element and any fold of material formed and then positioned by the element and thereafter to retain the fold against further movemet as element moves with relation to the surface, the engaging means comprising a base, a movable standard carried on the base, a plurality of arms, means carried by the standard to provide amoving-fulcrum' for the-arms, a-pair ofconnected links-carried"directly 'bythe base, one of the links providing another moving fulcrum for the arms, the moving fulcrums cooperating to compel points in the arms not between the fulcrums to move in paths substantially perpendicular to the surface for a limited distance, a clamp plate normally pivotally movable on the arms at said points, the plate having a face for engaging the fold of material, means carried by the arms for restraining the plate to limit the normal movement of the plate to a position where said face is substantially parallel to the surface, the restraining means including means to permit rocking the clamp plate out of the parallel-to-surface condition only in a single direction toward the element, the standard being movable on the base to carry the arms and the clamp plate out of the area of said limited distance, and latching means to restrain the standard against movement to carry the arms and the clamp plate out of said area.

15. In sheet material spreading apparatus, wherein a sheet of material is distended upon a surface by a device to produce a plurality of superposed layers, where the device includes a fold-forming element movable with relation to the surface, means for engaging the element and any fold of material formed and then positioned by the element and thereafter to retain the fold against further movement as the element moves with relation to the surface, the engaging means comprising a base, a movable standard carried on the base, a plurality of arms, bars pivoted to the standard and to the substantial midpoints of, the arms, a pair of connected links carried directly by the base, one of the links being pivotally connected to the arm on one side of said mid-point, the arms, the links, and the bars cooperating to compel points in the arms on the other side of said mid-point to move in paths substantially perpendicular to the surface for a limited distance, a clamp plate normally pivotally movable on the arms at said points, the plate having a face for engaging the fold of material, and means carried by the arms and the links for restraining the plate to limit the normal movement of the plate to a'position where said face is substantially parallel to the surface, the restraining means including means to permit rocking the clamp plate out of the parallel-to-surface condition only in a single direction toward the element.

16. In sheet material spreading apparatus, wherein a sheet of material is distended upon a surface by a device to produce a plurality of superposed layers, where the device includes a fold-forming element movable with relation to the surface, means for engaging the element and any fold of material formed and then positioned by the element and thereafter to retain the fold against further movement as the element moves with relation to the surface, the engaging means comprising a base, a stand- I I one end position, a plurality of arms, bars pivoted to the standard and to the substantial mid-points of the arms,

a four-bar linkage having a pair of pivots on the base, the arms being pivotally mounted on one of the pivot points of the four-bar linkage free of the base, a clamp plate pivotally mounted on the bars at points on the bars on the other side of the mid-points removed from the four-bartlinkage, the plate having a face for engaging the fold of material, and means carried by the arms for restraining the plate so that said face is substantially parallel to the surface, the restraining means providing means to permit the clamp plate to rock out of the parallel condition in one direction only. I

17. In sheet materialspreading apparatus, wherein a sheet of material is distended upon a surface by a device to produce a plurality of superposed layers, Where the device. includes a fold-forming element movable with relation to the surface, means for engaging the element and any fold of material formed and then positioned by the element and thereafter to retain the fold against further movement as the element moveswith relation 1% to the surface, the engaging means comprising a base, a standard pivotally mounted on the base, the standard being supported to come to rest with relation to the surface at one end position, a plurality of arms, bars pivoted to the standard and to the substantial mid-points of the arms, a four-bar linkage having a pair of pivots on the 'base, the arms being pivotally mounted on one of the pivot points of the four-bar linkage free of the base, a pivot pin carried by the bars at a point on the other side of the mid-points removed from the fourbar linkage, a clamp plate fixed to rotate with said pivot pin, the plate having a face for engaging the fold of material, and a band trained from said pivotal mounting on the four-bar linkage around said pivot pin, said band providing means for restraining the plate so that said face is substantially parallel to the surface, the band having slack on one side only to permit the clamp plate to rock out of the parallel condition in one direction only. 1

1'8. In sheet material spreading apparatus, wherein a sheet of material is to be converted into a plurality of superposed layers folded back and forth upon a surface by a device including a fold-forming element, a base to be held against movement on the surface, the base being provided for positioning at one of the ends of the layers, means carried by the base to engage the element as the element brings the sheet material in the form of a fold to the end of a layer being spread up to that base, a frame pivotally mounted on the base for movement from a position of rest at the surface to a position of rest where the frame extends upwardly away from the surface, a linkage mounted on the base, the linkage being constructed to. impart to a center motion which is substantially parallel to the surface, a plurality of bars provided a pivot upon the center, the bars having another center removed from said linkage center,'the engaging means being carried by the bars at said other center, and means extending from the frame to the .bars substantially at the mid-points between said centersto cooperate 'with the linkage to impart motion to said other center, said motion being in a limited area above and substantially perpendicular to the surface, the bars, the linkage, and the cooperating means functioning to lift the frame from the position of rest at the surface to the position at rest, with the frame extending upwardly away from the surface and with the engaging means completely removed from the limited area.

19. In sheet material spreading apparatus, wherein a sheet of material is to be converted into a plurality of superposed layers folded back and forth upon a surface by' a device including a fold-forming element, a base to be held against movement on the surface, the base being provided for positioning at one of the ends of the'layers, means carried by the base to engage the element as the element brings the sheet material in the form. of a fold to the end of a layer being spread up to that base, a frame pivotally mounted on the base for movement from a position of rest at the surface to a position of rest where the frame extends upwardly away from the surface, a linkage mounted on the base, the linkage being constructed to impart to a center motion which-is substantially parallel to the surface, a plurality of bars, the bars at one end being provided a pivot upon the center, the engaging means being carried at the other end of the bars, and means extending from the frame substantially to the mid-pointsof the bars to cooperate with the linkage to impart motion to the en- :gaging means, said motion being in a limited areaabove and substantially perpendicular to the surface, the bars, the linkage, and the cooperating means functioning to lift the frame from the position of rest at the surface tothe position atrest with the frame extending upwardly awayfrom the surface and with the engaging means completely removed from the limited area.

20. In sheet material spreading. apparatus, wherein a sheet of materialis to'be' converted into a plurality of superposed layers folded back and forth' upon a surface by a device including a fold-forming element, a base to be held against movement on the surface, the base being provided for positioning at one of the ends of the layers, meanscarried byv the base to engage the element as the element brings the sheet material in the form of a fold to the end of a layer being spread up to that base, a frame pivotally mounted on, the base for movement from a position of rest at the surface to a position of rest where the frame extends upwardly away from the surface, a linkage mounted on the base, the linkage being constructed to impart to a center motion which is substantially parallel to the surface, a plurality of bars, the bars at one end being provided a pivot at the other end of the bars, means extending from the frame substantially. to themid-points of the bars to cooperate with the linkage to impart motion to the engaging means, said motion being in a limited area above and substantially perpendicular to the surface, the bars, the linkage, and the cooperating means functioning to lift the frame from the position of rest .at the surface to the position at rest with the frame extending upwardly away from the surface and with the engaging means completely removed from the limited area, and means carried by the bars between the said linkage center and the pivot for the engaging meanson the. bars. to cause the engaging means to "assume a position substantially parallel to the surface when the engaging means is in the limited area.

21. In sheet material spreading apparatus, wherein a sheet of .material is. to-be'converted into a plurality of superposed'layers' foldedback and forth upon a surface by a device including'a foldaforming element, a base to be held against movement on the surface, the base being provided for positioning at oneofutheends of the layers,

means carried by the bas e to engage the element as the element brings the sheet material in the form of a fold to the end of a layer being spread up to that base, a frame pivotally mounted on the base for movement from a position of rest at the surface to a position of rest where the frame extends upwardly away from the surface, a linkage mounted on the base, the linkage being constructed to impart to a center motion which is substantially parallel to the surface, a plurality of bars, the bars at one end being provided a pivot upon the center, a sprocket fixed to the center against pivoting movement with the bars, the bars having a sprocket at their other ends, the engaging means being fixedly associated with the last specified sprocket, a chain trained around the sprockets, and means extending from the frame to points on the bars substantially midway between the sprockets to cooperate with the linkage to impart motion to the engaging means when the engaging means is in a limited area above the surface so that the engaging means moves then in a path substantially perpendicular to the surface, the bars, the linkage, and the cooperating means functioning to lift the frame from the position of rest at the surface to the position at rest with the frame extending upwardly away from the surface and with the engaging means completely removed from the limited area, the sprockets and chains functioning to cause the engaging means to assume a position substantially parallel to the surface when the engaging means is in the limited area.

22. In sheet material spreading apparatus, wherein a sheet of material is to be converted into a plurality of superposed layers folded back and forth upon a surface by a device including a fold-forming element, a base to be held against movement on the surface, the base being provided for positioning at one of the ends of the layers, means carried by the base to engage the element as the element brings the sheet material in the form of a fold to the end of a layer being spread up to that base, a frame pivotally mounted on the base for movement from a position of rest at the surface to a position of rest where the frame extends upwardly away from the surface, a linkage mounted on the base, the linkage being constructed t o impart to a center motionwhich is substantially parallel to the surface, a plurality'of bars, the bars at one end being provided a pivot upon the center, a sprocket fixed tothe center against pivoting movement with the bars, the bars having a sprocket at their other ends, the engaging means being fixedly associated with the last specified sprocket a chain trained around the sprockets, and means extending from the frame topoints on the bars substantially midway between the sprockets to cooperate with the linkage to impart motion to the engaging means when the engaging means is in a limited area above the surface so that the engaging means moves then in a path substantially perpendicular to the surface, the sprockets. and chains functioning to cause the engaging means to assume a position substantially parallel tothe surface when the engaging means is in the limited area.

23'. In sheet material spreading apparatus, wherein a sheet of material is to be converted into a plurality, of superposed .layers folded back and-forth upon asurface by a device includinga fold-forming element, a base. tobe held against movement on the surface,.the base being pro; vided for positioning at one ofthe ends of the layers, means carried by the base to engage the element as the element brings the sheet material in the form of a fold to the end of a layer being spread up to that base, a frame pivotally mounted on thebase for movement from a position of rest at the surface to, a position of rest where the frame extends upwardly away from the surface, a linkage mounted on the base, the linkage being constructed. to impart to a center, motion which is substantially parallel to the surface,,the center-being held against rotation with relation to one ofthe links, of the linkage, a plurality of bars,'t he bars at one endbeing provideda pivot upon, the center, the engaging means being mounted on the bars adjacent the ends remolved from said center, means connecting the centerand the engaging meansto cause the engaging means to assume substantially the angular position of the center for all displacements of the bars, and means extending from the frame to points on the bars substantially midway between the center and the mounting of the engaging means to cooperate with the linkage to maintain the engaging means in a path substantially perpendicular to the surface when moving in a limited area above the surface.

24. In sheet material spreading apparatus, wherein a sheet of material is to be converted into a plurality of superposed layers folded back and forth upon a surface by a device including a fold-forming element, a base to be held against movement on the surface, the base being provided for positioning at one of the ends of the layers, means carried by the base to engage the element as the element brings the sheet material in the form of a fold to the end of a layer being spread up to that base, a frame pivotally mounted on the base for movement from a position of rest at the surface to a position of rest where the frame extends upwardly away from the surface, a linkage mounted on the base, the linkage being constructed to impart to a center, motion which is substantially parallel to the surface, a plurality of bars provided upon the center, the bars having another center removed from said linkage center, the engaging means being carried by the bars at said other center, means exteding from the frame to the bars substantially at the midpoints between said centers to cooperate with the linkage to maintain said other center in a path substantially perpendicular to the surface when moving in a limited area above the surface, the bars, the linkage, and the cooperating means functioning to lift the frame from the position at rest on the surface to the position at rest with the frame extending upwardly away from the surface and with the engaging means completely removed from the limited area, and means to hold the frame against movement upwardly from the surface when said other center is moving within said limited area.

- 19 v 25.,In sheet material spreading apparatus, wherein a sheet of material is to be converted into a plurality of superposed layers folded back and forth upon a surface by a device including a fold-forming element, a base to be held against movement on the surface, the base being provided for positioning at one of the ends of the layers, means carried by the base to engage the element as the element brings the sheet material in the form of 'a fold to the end of a layer being spread up to that base, a frame pivotally mounted on the base for movement from a position of rest at the surface to a position of rest where the frame extends upwardly away from the surface, a linkage mounted on the base, the linkage-being constructed to. impart to a center motion which is substantially parallel to the surface, a plurality of bars provided a pivot upon the center, the bars having another center removed from said linkage center, the engaging means being carried by the bars at said other center, means extending from the frame to the bars substantially at the mid-points between said centers to cooperate with the linkage to maintain said other center in a path substantially perpendicular to the surface when moving in a limited area above the surface, the bars, the linkage, and the cooperating means functioning to lift the frame from the position at rest on the surface to the position at rest with the frame extending upwardly away from the surface and with the engaging means completely removed from the limited area, and means to hold the frame against movement upwardly from the surface when said other center is moving within said limited area, the bars having means to make the frame-holding means inefiective when the engaging means are lifted out of the limited area.

26. In sheet material spreading apparatus, wherein a sheet of material is to be converted into a plurality of superposed layers folded back and forth upon a surface by a device including a fold-forming element, a base to be held against movement on the surface, the base beasaeaeo ing provided for positioning at one of the ends of the layers, means carried by the base to engage the element as the element brings the sheet material in the form of a fold to the end of a layer being spread up to that base, a franiepivotally mounted on the base for movement from a position of rest at the surface to a position of rest where the frame extends upwardly away from the surface, a linkage mounted on the base, the linkage being constructed to impart to a center motion which is substantially parallel to the surface, a plurality of bars provided a pivot upon the center, the bars having another center removed from said linkage center, the engaging means being carried by the bars at said other center, means extending from the frame to the bars substantially at the mid-points between said centers to cooperate with the linkageto maintain said other center in a path substantially perpendicular to the surface when moving in a limited area above the surface, the bars, the linkage, and the cooperating means functioning to lift the frame from the position at rest on the surface to the position at rest with the frame extending upwardly away from the surface and with the engaging'means completely removed from the limited area, and means to hold the frame against movement upwardly from the surface when said other center is moving within said'limited area, the bars having means to make the frame-holding means inefiective when the engaging means are lifted out of the limited area, the frame having means to keep the frame-holding means ineffective so long as the frame is moved to position the engaging means out of said limited area.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,539,722 Booth Ian. 30, 1951 2,572,289 Truslow et al. Oct. 23, 1951 2,761,675 Obedin Sept. 4, 19 

